Atlas Studios

  Atlas Studios

  “It’s hard to answer, right?”


  Xiang Wan sniffled her nose and felt that her acting was about to crumble. She had put on a disguise to be indifferent when she clearly minded the issue. She even felt sad when she heard herself saying that.

  “So, Captain Bai, I’m going to work diligently in order to protect the safety of your woman.”


  “Hm? Xiang Wan.” Bai Muchuan was alert and knew that there’s something wrong with her. “You’re angry?” His voice sounded tense.

  Xiang Wan only gave him a quick glance and responded very softly. “Hm.”


  “This……” Bai Muchuan felt that her expression did not seem to be fake and wanted to say something. But when he wanted to say something, he felt something not quite right. Hence, after he swept a glance at the direction of the washroom, he walked straight ahead, leaving behind a sentence. “Follow me!”


  “.……”


  Is he really inexperienced?

  Things are already like this, and he still wanted to behave like a young master? And he wanted her to follow him?

  Xiang Wan could not help feeling amused by this behavior.

  If she was really angry, she dared to guarantee that this tactic of his carried negative points.

  Well, she only wanted to tease him!

  “Come on!” Bai Muchuan looked back and found that she was in a daze. “You’re silly!”


  “You’re the silly one!” Xiang Wan said this from the bottom of her heart.

  she thought.

  Seeing how grim he was, Xiang Wan wanted to retort him but could not bear to do so.

  Well, it was still very early and nothing much to do. She would just be idling anyway. She might as well follow and see what he would do to get out of such a situation.

  The two of them went out of the performance hall, one following another, toward the exit that was leading to the washroom.

  Xiang Wan followed from a distance, not too close but not too far, either. Those who do not know them would have never thought there was something going on with the two.

  There was a turn outside the washroom that connected to a corridor. At the end of the corridor, there was a huge floor-to-ceiling window with a small room on the right, which was locked.

  When Xiang Wan walked over, she saw Bai Muchuan leaning against the window, waiting for her with his legs crossed. He was looking at her casually with his eyes narrowed to a squint, yet at the same time, it felt like he was scrutinizing her seriously……

  “What do you want?” Xiang Wan did not go near him. She stopped quite a distance away.

  “Come over!” Bai Muchuan beckoned her with a half-smile.

  “.……”

  Xiang Wan thought, amused and helpless at the same time. She was interested to know what this man wanted to say to her……

  She put on a serious face, controlling her emotion…… With a gloomy aura, she approached and stopped at three steps away from him. She stood still without saying a word and watched coldly.

  Bai Muchuan’s tall figure was enveloped in the halo of the window, looking helpless and innocent.

  “Why are you standing so far away? I won’t eat you up……”


  Xiang Wan glanced at him unhappily. “Just say it, don’t beat around the bush.”


  “Hmm.” Bai Muchuan took a deep breath and extended both arms to her with a charming smile. “I’ll give you my hug.”


  “?” Xiang Wan was confused and looked at him innocently.

  “Hm? Come on!” Bai Muchuan sounded adamant.

  That expression of his made Xiang Wan laugh. “Are you ill?”


  “I’m the one who’s worried that you’re ill.” Bai Muchuan looked solemn. “When women are hurt, don’t they want a hug?”


  Hah? Xiang Wan almost laughed out of frustration. “Where did you learn this tactic?”


  Bai Muchuan: “It’s all over the internet?”


  Xiang Wan took a deep breath and exhaled. She couldn’t help rolling her eyes. “Are you pretending to be a fool or you’re really a fool? If I’m hurt by you, do you think I’ll need your hug?”


  “Fine! If you don’t need it, so be it. Come and comfort me then, I need your hug……” Bai Muchuan lowered his head and took her hand. “I feel wronged, I feel wronged. I also need comfort, right?”


  “.……” Bleh! Always not playing by the rules.

  A tough guy turned into a hot young stud. How is she going to handle that?

  “Not angry anymore?” Bai Muchuan held her hand, grabbed her arm, and pulled her to him, not giving her any time to react. With a smile, he held her tightly in his arms and patted her on the back like a baby. The breath in her neck was hot and burning. “Okay, later I’ll beat up Tang Yuanchu for you.”


  “.……” Totally out of context.

  Xiang Wan was speechless.

  She snorted, placed a hand on his chest to keep a distance from him, and looked up at him.

  “Be clear about this, is this about Tang Yuanchu?”


  “If it’s not him…… Then who is it?”


  “The point is…… the sentence ‘Xie Wanwan is your woman’.”


  “Isn’t that bullsh*t?” Bai Muchuan chuckled as he looked at her displeased face and suddenly hugged her very tightly while Xiang Wan tried to struggle. “You know I only have you,” he coaxed her, “if you get angry with me because of this, it’s so not worth it……”


  “Who’s your woman?” Xiang Wan was trapped in his strong arms and after a few attempts, she gave up struggling. “I haven’t agreed,” she snorted unhappily, “stop the tagging……”


  “.……” Bai Muchuan went stiff upon hearing that. He looked at her in disbelief, studied her expression, and frowned. “Are you kidding me?”


  “.……” Xiang Wan looked back at him innocently. “You’re right, it’s just a joke!”


  “.…… But you’ve already kissed me!”


  “I’ve let you kissed me as well. We’re equal! Nobody owes each other anything!”


  The two of them gazed at each other. After a brief moment, Bai Muchuan cussed softly, “.…… Damn!” He suddenly tightened his grip on Xiang Wan’s waist, and the next second, he tried to search for her lips……

  “Bai Muchuan.” Xiang Wan turned her head, trying to avoid that.

  He held her, fervent and eager, not allowing her to escape.

  “Be good, let me kiss you to relieve my anger.”


  “.……” Xiang Wan played with fire, and it backfired. She felt like crying.

  She wanted to explain to him that she just wanted to play a prank on him. Although it was true that she was not too happy over Tang Yuanchu’s remark, she had never suspected him and Xie Wanwan……

  However, she had missed the time to explain. She had no chance to talk.

  Bai Muchuan was somewhat anxious. Under the influence of an unfamiliar emotion, his brain seemed to “suffer” from an adrenaline surge, simulated by the injustice he felt as well as her indifferent attitude. He had subconsciously used the best tactic that he thought…… Kiss her and don’t let her talk……

  Their breathing intertwined.

  Originally, he had only wanted a light kiss. Unexpectedly, the invisible force of hormones made him go deeper by prying open her lips and tasting them at will……

  They continued until footsteps could be heard from the corridor.

  The two of them were shocked. Their eyes opened and stared at each other as they quickly pulled away……

  They looked at each other’s flustered expression and felt that if someone were to see them right now, they would immediately know what the both of them had been doing. And that would be too embarrassing.

  “Go in!” Bai Muchuan’s reaction was very fast. He quickly walked and opened the door right at the end of the corridor. Both of them slipped into the room.

  This area seemed to be very desolate that hardly anyone would come here. The room was not big but very dusty. It seemed to be a storage room, but except for a few empty shelves, there was nothing else inside. It seemed that nobody had used this room for a very long time.

  The footsteps got nearer.

  Xiang Wan held her breath, her heart beating furiously as she looked at Bai Muchuan nervously.

  He returned her gaze, his eyes were very bright and there was as though the smell of her in his breath……

  Uh! Xiang Wan felt an urge to laugh.

  Why did they choose to hide? They were not thieves, so why were they afraid of being found out?

  She whispered, “Bai Muchuan.”


  “Shush!” Bai Muchuan turned to her, his eyes shining bright.

  In the dim environment, his expression was suddenly serious and grave which left Xiang Wan dumbfounded.

  She nodded her head and stood beside the door with him.

  Eavesdropping on others was not a nice behavior. The two of them did not like to do this, but somehow, they continued their shameless behavior by not moving an inch as they heard the sounds got nearer.

  “Brother Six has said that he did not want to change his target. You better hurry and think of a way out.” The man who said this seemed to be furious and sounded stern. Let’s call him Mr. A.

  “.…… Bro, it’s not that I don’t want to think of a way out, but I don’t dare to. This period is quite sensitive. If she is not willing, we couldn’t force her to do so……” The person who replied was very careful with his words. Let’s call him Mr. B. It seemed as though he was worried about offending the other party. “I’ve found another girl for Brother Six who has a lower ranking, but she’s definitely as pretty, has nice figure, and most of all, she’s young and delicate……”


  “Hurhur! Are you the one who understood Brother Six’s temper better or me? Since when is it up to us to pick and choose a woman for him?” Mr. A said with a voice dripping with sarcasm. “Besides, is it important if she is willing or not?” He continued to reprimand Mr. B. “Which one of these women who had made it to Brother Six’s bed was willing anyway?”


  “Yes, yes, yes, I do know about this. But you have to know the police has their eyes on us, the film crew has been plagued with problems……”


  “That’s none of my business.” Mr. A sneered coldly. “You’ve taken the money, and you need to do what you’re told. If you can’t do it, then spit out the money you’ve swallowed……”


  “.…… Yes, yes, I should do that.” Mr. B seemed as though he was about to break down as he pleaded. “So is it alright for me to return the full sum of money to Brother Six?”


  “D*rn! I said you’re a fool and you really treat yourself as a piece of blockhead? Is Brother Six’s money so easy to be returned? Are you really able to return the full sum of money to him? I’ll see how you can return the money when you’re bankrupt.”


  “Bro, no, no, no! You need to save me, we’re such close friends……”


  “Scram! I don’t care how you’re going to do it. Brother Six is in a good mood, and tonight, this Mid-Autumn Festival, he wants that woman and that’s final.”


  “.……”


  Mr. A snorted angrily and left.

  There was a long sigh that came from outside the door.

  After a short while, Mr. B left the place as well.

  As the footsteps got further and further away, fading into the distance, Bai Muchuan opened the door very slowly and carefully to take a look outside. Then he waved to Xiang Wan.

  “Come out, there’s nobody now.”


  “Hm.” Xiang Wan smoothened her hair and came out slowly. “Are they talking about…… the film crew of ‘The Grey List’?”


  Bai Muchuan did not reply to her but looked at her deeply for a moment.

  Recently in Jin City, the film crew of “The Grey List” was the most famous of all.

  The people who were invited and attended the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala were basically the key personnel of “The Grey List” film crew.

  The film crew that was often in the news and plagued by troubles, besides “The Grey List”, there was no other film crew that had the same situation……

  “You go back first,” said Bai Muchuan suddenly, “I’ll make a phone call.”


  Hm, he wanted to make a phone call and she couldn’t hear it?

  Xiang Wan got what he wanted to do. After a brief pause, she asked, “You want to call Xie Wanwan?”


  From what the two men were talking earlier, Mr. A should be Brother Six’s subordinate, while Mr. B should be from the film crew of “The Grey List” who should have a rather high position there……

  Moreover, from their conversation, the female celebrity Brother Six wanted had a high rank…… Hence, who had the highest ranking in the actresses starring in “The Grey List”?

  Of course, it would be the female lead, Xie Wanwan.

  After Xiang Wan met Zhou Dequan from a distance that day, she had analyzed him as well. It was evident that after he tasted the sweet success of being rich and famous, he had become arrogant and even haughty. He thought highly of himself and could do anything he wanted. Such a person would be very dangerous……

  So, the woman he wanted could jolly well be the female lead, Xie Wanwan.

  At this time, it was perfectly reasonable for Bai Muchuan to call up Xie Wanwan to ask her about it.

  “It’s not that.” It was unexpected that Bai Muchuan would directly deny it. His eyebrows seemed to make a frown. “Don’t think too much. You’ll go over first and tell Tang Yuanchu and the rest of them that the most important job tonight are the security checks……”


  Everyone: “Got it!”


  Since he talked about work, that would be a work command. Xiang Wan should not continue to press on the issue.

  “I’ll go over now.”


  “Hm,” he replied without any emotion.

  Xiang Wan suddenly felt a little upset, her cheeks felt warm, and she lowered her eyelids, turning away to leave—


  Suddenly, he grabbed her hand.

  “Xiang Wan,” Bai Muchuan called her.

  Xiang Wan turned and looked at him. She bit her lower lip and kept quiet.

  “Sigh! Silly girl.” Bai Muchuan suddenly pulled her over and hugged her tightly. He lowered his head and kissed her cheek slowly till her ear. “I’m going to tell you one more time that I only have you. I’m not the type of man who holds one woman and thinks of another. Moreover, I don’t have so much energy and time to focus on relationship matters. I only have you, and that’s enough for me.”


  Hm?

  He showered her with kisses, gently. “Do you believe me?”


  Her ears felt itchy and numb. Xiang Wan’s breathing almost become erratic.

  “Yes.”


  She had difficulty saying that one word.

  Whereas he was as though he had received some kind of encouragement that he hugged her very tightly and passionately. After that, he gave her a pat on her back.

  “Go darling! I’ll feel more assured now.”


  “.……”


  Only then did Xiang Wan realize that the unhappiness she had over making a call to someone mysterious had been brought over just like that.

  She heaved a sigh inside her heart; there was nothing she could do anyway.

  For it was her choice to choose this sly guy after all……

  Xiang Wan went back to the performance hall and looked around for the two men who were talking earlier, subconsciously. She wanted to find out their identity.

  However, there seemed to be more people who came over in the performance hall. There were people everywhere, so how would she be able to tell them apart?

  She found Tang Yuanchu who was standing by the offstage walkway. She looked around naturally and asked in a casual tone, “More people came in here earlier?”


  Tang Yuanchu was puzzled for a second and nodded his head. “Yeah, some people from ‘The Grey List’ film crew arrived for the event tonight……”


  Xiang Wan asked, “I see, there’s no one else?”


  Tang Yuanchu thought for a moment and shook his head. “Yeah, I don’t think so.”


  After a short pause, he asked Xiang Wan in a suspicious tone. “What’s up? Teacher Xiang, is there something going on?”


  “No, there’s nothing going on.” Xiang Wan tried to brush it off.

  Before they found out what was going on, she would definitely not tell Tang Yuanchu. She would also not act rashly and alert the enemy.

  “Okay. Oh yes, where’s Captain Bai?” Tang Yuanchu looked around. “I think I haven’t seen him for quite a while already?”


  “Is that so?” Xiang Wan pretended to not realized it. “I don’t know either.”


  “This is strange,” Tang Yuanchu muttered to himself as he looked around the hall again.,”I’m going to look for him……”


  He left and Xiang Wan stood there on the same spot. From where she was standing, it was elevated and she could look down at the stage. Her vision started to become blurry as though caught in a whirlpool and the center of which was the brightly lit stage……

  Time passed by very slowly in the afternoon.

  The policemen on duty had confirmed every procedure before they could ease up a little and wait for the night to arrive.

  Around five plus in the evening, everyone received a packet of rice which was their dinner. They quickly finished their food, and soon, they heard music playing from the performance hall.

  The event was about to begin, and the media personnel were nervously making their final preparations.

  During this couple of hours, Xiang Wan saw Bai Muchuan several times, but she did not ask him about the earlier incident. He did not tell her if he knew anything else about the incident, either. When the event was about to start, and the police officers started to get in their designated positions, he walked over to Xiang Wan casually.

  “If you feel tired later on, you may go and rest for a while. We have enough manpower for the event.”


  “Eh?” Xiang Wan turned around. “I don’t think that’s a good idea?”


  “I’ve said it’s okay.” Bai Muchuan glanced at her meaningfully. “I can’t let my woman tire herself out.”


  With that, he left to check on other areas.

  Xiang Wan looked at him. “.……”


  The spectators entered the hall with their admission tickets, and the originally empty seats were gradually filled with people.

  Usually, those who attended such events were educated people with better manners. Hence, although there was a lot of whispering, nobody spoke loudly.

  As a duty officer, Xiang Wan had to face the audience and her back facing the stage. She observed the audience quietly and tried to remember the behaviors of the audience in her brain…… Soon, she saw a man who walked to the front row of the VIP seats.

  It was Zhou Dequan—that Brother Six.